Approved by Dr. Luqman Javed

No matter what type of goat you’re dealing with, they all share a universal characteristic: they love to climb and jump. If you’re wondering about how high goats can actually jump, the answer depends on the size and species of goat that you’re dealing with. Most goats can jump anywhere from 4 to 12 feet high. This becomes the main concern when you’re building a fence because you don’t want to put in all that hard labor for nothing.

The purpose of the goat fence is to keep the animals inside, and it won’t do you any good if you expect your goats to only jump 4 feet high when, in fact, they can jump 6 feet high. Let’s explore some of the different species of goats and how high each kind can jump.

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Different Types of Goats & How High They Jump

Different types of goats have different athletic abilities. Generally speaking, heavier goats bred for their meat don’t jump as high as other breeds of goats. However, all goats are excellent climbers and jumpers.

1. Mountain Goats

young mountain goat jumps
Image Credit: Kelp Grizzly Photography, Shutterstock

Mountain goats are some of the most active and skillful goats in the world. Most of these goats have powerful legs and weigh up to 300 pounds (136 kg). Mountain goats can jump the highest of them all, with some of them easily jumping over 12 feet high.


2. Nigerian Dwarf Goats

Baby Nigerian dwarf goat in barn
Image Credit: Jennifer White Maxwell, Shutterstock

These compact animals may not seem like they can jump high. Even though they’re extremely short, you can still expect these animals to jump over a 4-foot-tall fence. They also enjoy leaning, standing, and chewing on fencing. Most owners tend to keep the fence posts close together to prevent them from escaping through even the smallest holes.


3. Boer Goats

two boer goats
Image Credit: THAICOWBOY MAGAZINE, Shutterstock

Boer goats are some of the largest goat species, but they don’t actually jump too high. Most can only reach heights of about 3.5 feet. Most of their owners enclose them in electrified wire or offset wire fixed about one foot inside an outer fence to keep them from escaping.


4. Pygmy Goats

Pygmy Goat standing on the grass
Image Credit: CEW, Shutterstock

Pygmy goats are very small, with most of them only being about 1.5 feet tall. They tend not to be able to jump any higher than four feet off the ground.

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How to Stop Goats from Jumping Over Fences

Even domesticated goats are impressively agile. It makes a lot of sense when you think about it. After all, their relatives can scale some of the steepest mountains on the planet. Jumping and climbing come naturally to them, and it’s challenging to control their behavior.

The best way to stop goats from jumping over fencing is to make fences that are tall enough that they’ll fail every time they attempt. With time, they’ll soon learn that their escape attempts are useless.

Some other ways to help are ensuring that the inside of the fence has plenty of plants and vegetation. Some goats also prefer to climb under instead of go over, so you’ll have to be sure to take that into account when building your fence as well.

goat trying to jump on the fence
Image Credit: N_Belonogov, Shutterstock

The 3 Types of Fencing

In general, your fencing for your pet goats should be a minimum of 4 feet tall. Highly active breeds may need at least an extra foot of height to stop them.

1. Woven Wire Fencing

One of the most popular types of goat fencing is woven wire because it is so sturdy. However, it is rather expensive and installing it is a bit of a headache. If you decide to use it, make sure you keep four-inch spaces between the wires, so the animals don’t get their heads stuck.


2. Goat Panels

Goat panels are another excellent fencing option. They come in many different heights and lengths to help you customize your fencing. The higher and wide the panels are, the safer it is for your goats. The one disadvantage to it is that you might have to add some wire lining to the top of the fence to discourage some of the more active goat breeds.


3. Wooden and Metal Posts

Goats enjoy rubbing their bodies against walls and fences. They won’t ever stop this habit. Wooden and metal posts are much sturdier than wire and won’t wear out from the rubbing. Keep the posts eight to ten feet apart from each other and bury them at least two feet below the ground. The posts in the corners must also be on the outside of the fencing or the animals will use them to climb up and out of the enclosed area.

Which Fence Is Right For You?

Ultimately, the fence you decide on will depend on the goat breed you have, other farm animals you’re planning to keep with your goats, your budget, and other requirements you may have. As long as your fence keeps your pets in and predators out, there really isn’t any right or wrong answer to this conundrum.

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Conclusion

Goats can jump and are considered excellent climbers as well. Most goat breeds can easily manage a jump of several feet without much issue, while the truly athletic ones can easily scale very tall fences.

It is important to ensure that the fence you choose for your goats is appropriate for them and any other animals you’re keeping alongside your goats.


Featured Image Credit: Wan Kum Seong, Shutterstock